Aibu to think this is unfair?

[Carlie97]

In my organisation there are a small pool of staff who provide frontline client support and so ideally need to be in the office, although we all have the option to work from home one day a week. A while ago I negotiated two days wfh a week due to circumstances and these were granted.

It's hard work being one of the small pool, we're stretched and it's been decided that one of our pool no longer has to do the part of the role which means need to be in the office anymore. This leaves us even more stretched and when a member of the pool is on leave for whatever reason, it may possibly mean I can't wfh that week. This has a big effect on me.

I'm really upset with work for not thinking about us who are left and for my wfh to be having to be potentially cancelled.

Aibu?

What I'm most mad about is they make these changes without thinking about the consequences for the others. I'm a worrier anyway but this has pissed me off because I bend over backwards for that place. My work ethic and performance is excellent, yet they continue to put on extra work and make things potentially difficult for me to work from home. Others in the company have a flexible agreement to wfh three days a week and because they don't have this extra thing that I do their wfh is never affected.

I am going to say you are being unreasonable, because it was your choice to move far from your workplace. You get to work from home two days a week and the others only have one day working from home. So now you are worried that you may occasionally have to work from the office a day extra a week.

It is unfair on your colleagues that you get two days and they get one. Also you say that they can negotiate more WFH days, but you also say it is a small team and there are not enough people to cover the office now so how can they negotiate more WFH days?

maybe they don’t need you to change your working pattern? I would talk to your union rep and ask for a meeting to discuss your concerns with managers

But before I moved far I negotiated those two days to wfh otherwise had it been declined I wouldn't have moved.

I will. Thank you.

I don't know why I'm stressing so much especially as I may not even have to change my working pattern but the anticipation is stressing me massively. My poor mental health isn't helping. I overthink everything lately.

Do they do the same job as you those with wfhx3?
what are the tasks of your job and what differs in those you do at home or at work?

I think have a chat with them and get a conversation going - it might not be as bad as you think

Within our nhs trust since Covid we have all done a mix of office and home as there is less office space and more clinical areas. They are now trying, in some teams, to get everyone back in the office 5 days a week by renting extra office space not at our main site.

Its caused quite a bit of unrest as people have saved on time getting to work and travel costs, maybe have the ability to do school runs and not pay for wraparound care, a couple of people have bought a dog as they’re home 3 days a week and now might have to pay dog walkers, people do after work gym sessions/ clubs/ take their kids to clubs that if they were on site until 5pm might be difficult.

I compress into 4 days and do 2 days at
home and 2 on site and I would miss that flexibility but ultimately it’s their call.

im not sure - in my teams position anyway - they’d benefit as we get far more done at home as there is less disruptions. I also log on at 7am and often work into the early evening - they get a lot more out of people by being flexible.

OP, you're doing what my granny called 'borrowing trouble'.

No one has asked you to change your arrangement, just wait and see. Cross that bridge when you come to it.

So he now just has a totally different job?

I don’t think that’s unreasonable, they can’t commit to keeping exactly the same number of team members forever.

If you have a contracted 2 wfh days a week though, then this change is not your problem to solve. And from what it sounds like, as it stands they haven’t even asked you do anything differently?

This is why you should always formally request flexible working ... it can't tgen be amended once agreed

If it’s not in your contract to wfh then they can do what they like. It’s about meeting the needs of your service. Also your arrangement seems unfair in the rest of the team.
Those saying they can’t afford to do more days in the office how do you think we managed before Covid !

Thanks everyone. I negotiated the two days wfh and made it clear it's because I wanted to move further away and that when they agreed, that formed my decision to move. I cannot afford anything more towards travel to work. I'm paying off debts and I'm quite in the shit financially which is adding to my stress. Hopefully I won't need to do anything as they'll let me stay as I am but it's stressing me.

Then you are stressing at the wrong end of the equation. Your employer pays you to do a job that needs doing. As long as you do that job well and efficiently, they will continue to employ you and pay you. How you manage your finances and the salary that you receive is your responsibility. Rather than wasting headspace and energy worrying about something that hasn't happened yet and that is outside your control, work on improving your financial situation.